DISASTER

5 years ago

Oil Spills From Italy Shipwreck

Pier Paolo Cito / AP Photo

The tragedy of the Costa Concordia shipwreck on the coast of Giglio, Italy, just keeps getting bleaker. On Tuesday, authorities called off the search for survivors after raising the body count to 17. On Wednesday, they announced that oil is now leaking from the wreck, spreading out into a thin film on the region’s pristine and sensitive waters. The ship holds 500,000 gallons of fuel and other pollutants that authorities fear could wreak ecological havoc on an area that is the home of dolphins, whales, and other animals. Salvage workers are hoping to pump the remaining fuel from the ship, but suspended the effort Wednesday on account of bad weather.